We’re looking for 125 FAMU stars

A lot has changed for Florida A&M University since Thomas DeSaille Tucker became the first president in 1887. It was then a school of 15 students and two instructors. And this fall, we will join all of Tallahassee in helping to celebrate all that FAMU has been for 125 years.

No one is ignoring its recent anguish as a university and community, and the news about the ongoing hazing-related tragedy and its fallout will continue to be covered vigorously. But our editors decided that the 125th anniversary and celebration of all that FAMU has been and will become should be covered with just as much enthusiasm and fervor. So for weeks, our team has been meeting with members of the FAMU community to discuss coverage plans.

This is where you come in: We’d like your help in identifying 125 people who have been associated with FAMU – whether they are graduates, faculty or friends of the university — who are most noteworthy. I call them the 125 brightest stars of FAMU.

No such list would be complete, for example, without the late Dr. William P. Foster, founder of the Marching 100 and one of the most influential band directors in America before his death two years ago. Although he had an honorary doctorate from FAMU, Foster’s other degrees were from the University of Kansas, Wayne State University and Columbia University. No one would say he is not a true FAMUAN, however.

We are looking for your nominations and suggestions. The final decision of who we pick will be made by a committee comprised of faculty, alumni and other members of the FAMU community and the staff of the Tallahassee Democrat.

Contact me with your nominations and a short paragraph or two on why you think the person you nominate should be listed among our 125 stars. You may include a photograph or video of your nominee, but it is not required. Please be mindful of all of FAMU’s history, and not just the last few decades. You may nominate as many people as you wish, but we ask that you keep the entire university in mind and not just one or two well known areas.

You may reach me by any of the methods listed below, with a deadline of 5 p.m. Sept. 17. We need to leave time for the committee to make its selections and for the write ups to be completed.

A verry special section of at least 32 pages will be published Nov. 4. It will include the 125 stars and much more, including stories looking at the university’s history, accomplishments and, most importantly, its people. This, too, will not be the entirety of our coverage, but it will be the major showcase piece.

Sharon Saunders, director of communications at FAMU, has sent a letter to each school, college and department on campus seeking nominations. We want to be inclusive of all walks of life and the university, including athletics. We’ll be posting information on Facebook and Twitter and other social media as well.

We not only want the most complete list possible, we also want to ensure we have cast the net as wide as net possible, asked the most people for input and sought the most diverse views. In so doing, we understand that we might get “too many” nominees. That is to say we might get more than 125 nominees and some might have to be left off.

But in the end, we want the list to be the best of the best, worthy of the intent to recognize the best, brightest and greatest in FAMU’s 125 years, a list that will stand the test of time and be worthy of mention in 25 years or 50 years when the next generations celebrate future anniversaries.

You can send comments by clicking on Bob Gabordi’s blog on Tallahassee.com, e-mailing him at bgabordi@tallahassee.com, sending a private message on Tallahassee.com and Twitter @bgabordi. You can also find links to his blogs on Facebook. His mailing address is Bob Gabordi, Executive Editor, Tallahassee Democrat, P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302. His telephone number is Or call 850-599-2177.

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You can send comments by clicking on Bob Gabordi’s blog on Tallahassee.com or Move.Tallahassee.com, e-mailing him at bgabordi@tallahassee.com, sending a private message on Tallahassee.com and Twitter @bgabordi. You can also find links to his blogs on Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. His mailing address is Bob Gabordi, Executive Editor, Tallahassee Democrat, P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302. His telephone number is 850-599-2177.